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> Thu., July 29, 2004
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Today's lead stories:
Highlights From The Convention Floor
Democrats Vague About Alliances and “Two Americas”
Definition
Immigration Rights Forum
Voting Reform Advocates Rally
Bio-Terror Plant in Boston
Coca Farmers Organize
FSRN Headlines
FBI Whistleblower Update
The FBI’s Director Robert Mueller says that a whistle-blower’s
assertions about problems in the agency’s translation
department were a factor in her firing. In the letter to the
U.S. Senate Judiciary committee obtained by the Associated
Press, Mueller reportedly told committee members that Sibel
Edmonds case does not fall under current whistle blower protections
because she was a contract worker. Edmonds says she was fired
from the FBI’s translation division after raising concerns
that some translations done after September 11th 2001 were
inaccurate and might have adversely affected national security.
She filed a wrongful firing lawsuit against the government.
A judge dismissed Edmond’s suit this month accepting
Attorney General John Ashcroft’s claim that the case
could expose the government’s methods and disrupt relations
with other nations. She is appealing that ruling.
War in Sudan?
African nations say they are ready to send troops into the
troubled western Darfur region of Sudan. However, the Sudanese
government promises any armed force will be received with
force. From Uganda, Joshua Kyalimpa has more.
Toxic Teflon Scare
Researchers announced today that charges against DuPont over
toxic exposure from Teflon have sparked a consumer panic in
Asia. Erika McDonald reports.
Judge Rules Against Affirmative Action
A San Francisco judge has ruled that the city’s affirmative
action program for public contractors is unconstitutional.
Kellia Ramares reports from Oakland.
NYC Cop on Trial
A New York City police officer went on trial for refusing
to follow the order to arrest a homeless man. Rebecca Myles
reports from WBAI.
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Highlights From The Convention Floor
Mainstream media coverage of the speakers at the Democratic
Convention misses much of the action at the podium. Today
we bring you a sampling of some of the sounds from the Convention
– including delegates voices during the roll call, Senator
Diane Feinstein, Reverend Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson,
Representative Harold Ford Jr., Representative and former
Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich, Robert Kennedy Jr.,
Senator Frank Lutenberg and Senator John Edwards. This audio
collage from the convention floor was produced in Boston by
Christopher Sprinkle.
[top]
Democrats Vague About Alliances and “Two Americas”
Definition
Its official, Senator John Kerry is the Democratic Presidential
candidate -- winning 4225 of the delegate votes. Representative
Dennis Kucinich came in second with 37. The Kerry/Edwards
campaign is running on a platform of rebuilding international
cooperation abroad while uniting the so called two Americas
at home. But as Mitch Jesserich reports, the Democrats are
selective about the issues on which they will seek international
support and on what constitutes the two Americas.
[top]
Immigration Rights Forum
Just two blocks away from the Fleet Center in Boston, where
Democrat delegates gathered to discuss the future of an administration
under John Kerry, immigration advocates and leaders held a
forum to express their discontent with both parties. Dolores
M. Bernal reports that they cite failure to pass legislation
that would give immigrants who live in the Unites States adequate
rights and protections.
[top]
Voting Reform Advocates Rally
Voting reform advocates gathered yesterday to question the
accuracy of electronic voting machines. According to Texas-based
Diebold Election Systems, which manufactures paperless voting
machines that cannot be audited, the company has sold over
75,000 machines across the country and manufactures all of
Georgia’s polling machines. From Boston, Aura Bogado
has more.
[top]
Bio-Terror Plant in Boston
As the DNC comes to a close today, Boston communities look
forward to life outside the spotlight. Activists, though,
used the presence of the convention to highlight local struggles
with national implications. Residents and visitors rallied
yesterday against the construction of a Bio-terror facility,
connecting the so-called war on terror and the domestic attacks
on the health and security of communities of color. FSRN’s
Nell Geiser was there.
[top]
Coca Farmers Organize
Bolivia is one of the top producers of coca leaf, the raw
material used to manufacture cocaine. But the coca leaf has
been used traditionally in Bolivia for centuries and is used
medicinally to relieve the affects of hunger, cold, and altitude
and is also a common ingredient in Bolivian tea. The U.S.
backed Drug War has declared a campaign of total eradication
against the plant. Small farmers producing the leaf are organizing
to protect their tradition. Shannon Young reports from Cochabamba,
Bolivia.
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